When the Cal (Pa.) and Seton Hill women meet on the hardwood, the games are usually battles.

It was no different Wednesday when the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rivals collided for first place atop the West Division at Salvitti Gymnasium.

It was a battle to the end with Cal (Pa.) winning 60-51 and taking the season series 2-0. Cal (Pa.) defeated Seton, 62-56, on Jan. 26.

The Vulcans, led by a strong second-half performance from 6-foot-1 junior center Dejah Terrell, used a 19-7 run to end the third quarter and start the fourth. It erased a 28-26 deficit and yielded a 46-35 lead.

Terrell scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half. She also finished 16 rebounds and five assists, mainly to 5-8 junior forward Brionna Allen, who finished with 10.

It was a physical battle that favored the Vulcans (18-4, 13-4 PSAC).

“We always want to be the toughest team on the floor,” Cal (Pa.) coach Jess Strom said. “When the officials let the teams play, that’s good for us.”

Cal (Pa.) also won despite missing its final 19 3-point attempts after hitting its first.

But the Vulcans were deadly on their short-range shots and finished 13 of 14 from the foul line.

“What you saw tonight was two teams battling for first place in the conference and two teams ranked in the top five of the Atlantic Region,” Seton Hill coach Mark Katarski said. “They are good, and I think we’re good, too. They just scored a few more points than us.

“It wasn’t a lack of us trying, it’s just the kind of games you have in February. Our team would rather play these games in February than games that don’t mean as much.”

Katarski said Terrell did a good job creating plays, and Cal (Pa.) did a good job generating plays for her.

“She’s probably an all-conference player,” Katarski said.

Seton Hill (20-8, 14-5) is in position to host a playoff game. But the Griffins first must finish the regular season starting Saturday at IUP.

“That locker room hurts right now,” Katarski said. “Losing stinks. But it’s a group that understands it’s just one day and we need to continue to show gratitude because we can play because a year ago we didn’t have games.”

Christiane Frye came off the bench to lead Seton Hill with 15 points. Katie Nolan had 16 rebounds and eight points, and Cheyenne Trest and Samantha Kosmacki each had nine.

“Seton Hill is a good team,” Strom said. “They play really hard, and they have veteran players. It was a good environment. It was probably a good game to watch.

“Seton Hill plays zone and makes you shoot 3-pointers. We did a good job attacking their zone with Dejah.”

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